Sumatra Bener Meriah Mandheling Grade 1 is sourced from small-scale producers from Bener Meriah, a regency located in Aceh district, Indonesia. Sara Ate Cooperative was founded in 2011. The cooperative currently has approximately 517 small coffee producing members. The typical processing method used by Sara Ate coffee producers is called "Giling Gasah" in the Bahasa language. This processing method starts with a locally made pulping machine called a “luwak” that removes the outer skin from the coffee cherries, which are left to ferment for up to 24 hours. Then, the coffee is washed to remove the rest of the cherry and dried in parchment until the moisture content is reduced to between 30% and 35%. Finally, the parchment is removed from the bean while in this semi-wet state, which gives the beans their unique bluish-green appearance.